(1) (Inches Per Second) The measurement of the speed of tape passing by a read/write head or paper passing through a pen plotter.

(2) (IPS) (Intrusion Prevention System) Software that prevents an attack on a network or computer system. An IPS is a significant step beyond an IDS (intrusion detection system), because it stops the attack from damaging or retrieving data. Whereas an IDS passively monitors traffic by sniffing packets off a switch port, an IPS resides inline like a firewall, intercepting and forwarding packets. It can thus block attacks in real time. See IDS. See also ISP.